Pharmaceutical dermatology is a relatively new field comprising various treatments designed to target the underlying causes of various skin conditions. With the rise pharmaceutical dermatology in recent years, the market is poised for considerable growth due in part, to the increasing prevalence of skin disease and the that the technological advances that have enabled the development of more effective treatments.
The pharmaceutical dermatology aims to address myriad skin conditions, using various forms of treatment. Topical creams are the most common option, generally applied directly to the affected area of the skin. Creams may contain ingredients such as steroids, antibiotics or retinoids, and are used to treat conditions like acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Oral medications are also commonly used for this purpose, and are administered in pill or liquid form to target the condition’s underlying cause. Meanwhile, injectables have become prevalent for the treatment of conditions such as wrinkles and fine lines. These treatments tend to contain substances like hyaluronic acid, which firm the skin and mitigate the appearance of wrinkles.
As skin diseases rise in frequency due to factors like age, trauma, and hereditary and environmental impact – in addition to ongoing technological disruption – the need for dermatology pharmaceuticals has risen, driving the market to develop more effective treatments. One 2022 market projection by Precedence Research reported that the field would surpass USD $39.78 billion by the year 2030.
Skin diseases affect millions of people worldwide. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) reports that various conditions affect roughly one in three Americans, making both present and preventive treatment paramount in mitigating serious complications or even death. The industry is also expanding due to a rise in the geriatric population and increasing demand for non-invasive procedures.
While the growing use of dermatology pharmaceuticals portends future benefits, the industry’s overall viability will be contingent upon continued innovation with an emphasis on safety, efficacy, accessibility (including cost) and and practitioner vigilance.
A 2022 assessment published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology notes the following: “Analyses of Medicare prescription claims suggest that cost impacts dermatologic drug prescribing, accounting for safety, efficacy, tolerability, patient satisfaction, and quality of life. Dermatologist versus non-dermatologist prescribing for the same condition might be more costly, which may be explained by efficacy considerations and disease severity.”
The article also underscores the need for industry research to consider “the impact of prescribing on the long-term patient outcomes and other indirect costs, including the need for additional treatments, hospitalizations, and time missed from work because of disability.”
Moving forward, the field of pharmaceutical dermatology must continue to align such factors to provide an equitable, accessible, and safe healthcare experience, thus ensuring its full potential for patients’ benefit.
